If one doesn't want them to talk about something really important, one puts up something else conspicuous, harmless, and exciting to occupy their minds.

"But public opinion, my lord?" said Marie, half-pleased, half-terrified to find the shaft which she had fancied fatal fall harmless at her feet.

The whole pack would break loose in another minute or less; but Jack had reason to believe their altitude was such as to render the fusillade harmless.

Lord Byron's verse glows like a flame, consuming every thing in its way; Sir Walter Scott's glides like a river, clear, gentle, harmless.

As for the metal itself, that is the filings or actual metallic particles or fragments, one ounce is a common dose as a vermifuge; harmless even in that quantity to man, and not always so harmful as could be desired to the parasites for whose disestablishment it is administered.

perfect, faultless; indefective^, indeficient^, indefectible; immaculate, spotless, impeccable; free from imperfection &c 651; unblemished, uninjured &c 659; sound, sound as a roach; in perfect condition; scathless^, intact, harmless; seaworthy &c (safe) 644; right as a trivet; in seipso totus teres atque rotundus

inculpable, unculpable^; unblamed, unblamable^; blameless, unfallen^, inerrable^, above suspicion; irreproachable, irreprovable^, irreprehensible^; unexceptionable, unobjectionable, unimpeachable; salvable^; venial &c 937. harmless; inoffensive, innoxious^, innocuous; dove-like, lamb-like; pure, harmless as doves; innocent as a lamb, innocent as the babe unborn; more sinned against than sinning [Lear].

inculpable, unculpable^; unblamed, unblamable^; blameless, unfallen^, inerrable^, above suspicion; irreproachable, irreprovable^, irreprehensible^; unexceptionable, unobjectionable, unimpeachable; salvable^; venial &c 937. harmless; inoffensive, innoxious^, innocuous; dove-like, lamb-like; pure, harmless as doves; innocent as a lamb, innocent as the babe unborn; more sinned against than sinning [Lear].